Kashton
Iheld Raven’s hand in my lap as we sat on the couch and watched Maxim open his presents. The boy was full of life, smiling and laughing as his father teased him. Yet, an intelligence behind his eyes far surpassed his twelve years.
He’d been through so much in his short life. It was to be expected.
When he finished, he was smiling and walked around the room to give thankful hugs.
“Thanks, Uncle Chris, this is the coolest.” He squeezed Chris tightly. My best friend swallowed harshly, returning Maxim’s embrace. Chris had the idea of getting him tickets to go up to Seattle and attend his first football game after Harry told him how much he loved the sport. He planned to make it a full weekend for the three of them: Harry, Maxim, and Chris.
I couldn’t be happier for him as he reconnected with the best part of his family.
“Dad, did you see he even arranged for us to go down on the sidelines before the game?”
Harry scooped his son up and turned him back toward the kitchen. “Yes, I did. But make sure you thank your other new uncles, Caden, Kashton, and Aunt Raven too.”
“Thank you!” The couple of favors I called in to make the sideline passes happen were worth it to see the grin on this kid’s face.
Maxim returned to the table, and Sofia joined him as he showed her his new skateboard. The bond between them was so apparent it hurt me to watch it.
I wished I could have that close bond with my sisters, but there were just too many years between us. Not to mention when they were younger in order to see them I had to deal with my mother and Rupert.
I’d rather have cut my balls off than spend any more time with him than I had to, even for my sisters.
Which reminded me my mother called for what had to be the hundredth time this week. After all that had happened with Ayrton and then Bryan, she was the furthest thing from my mind.
Again, I would rather chop off my balls than deal with her right now.
My mood soured momentarily, but when Raven squeezed my hand and eyed me with a question in her eyes, I took a deep breath and focused on the here and now.
Not my bitch of a mother and her husband.
We ate dinner, and I delighted in the stories of when Chris was young that Harry insisted on telling us.
“He seriously ran into the middle of the lake. In winter.” Raven shook her head as her whole body shook with laughter.
Harry nodded, pointing at her with his fork. “Butt ass naked. I can’t believe he thought I was telling the truth when I said it was a Bratva right of passage.”
Bryan barked out a deep laugh. “Still in shock, you told him that.”
“He had pneumonia and had to be in hospital for two days.”Babushkanarrowed her eyes at Harry. “I ended up making you pay for that.”
“So did I,” Chris growled, but his eyes glimmered with mirth. “I took your ass to the cleaners when it came to range time. If I remember correctly, I bought my first car with your money.”
“You always were a good fucking shot.” Bryan got a faraway look in his dark eyes as he shook his head. “From the first moment you picked up a gun, you excelled in marksmanship.”
The mood turned somber as Chris looked away and clenched his jaw tightly.
“Dad, when are you going to let me go out to the range with you?” Maxim asked, interrupting the daunting silence.
“And me, too!” Sofia raised her hand high in the air and waved it around. She just wanted to do anything her older brother did.
Harry held his hands in the air, his eyes going wide. “I need a few more years before I can think about that.”
“Maybe you should do it before you get too much older.” Chris smirked. “I mean, you aren’t a spring chicken anymore. Who knows if your heart can take it in a few years.”
“Ha ha,” Harry said with nothing but laughter. “You’re so funny.”
The rest of the room burst into laughter, including Maxim and Sofia.
When it was time for us to head home, Harry embraced Chris like the long-lost family they’d been. “No disappearing on me now, cousin. My kids love you, and I’m not letting you get away again.”
When Chris pulled away from the embrace, he grasped Harry’s upper arms and nodded solemnly. “Never again, cousin. Volkovs stick together.”
Volkovs stick together. I was beginning to like the mantra.
Sofia hugged Raven tightly, their bond evident in how the girl clung to our woman. “Promise me I’ll see you again?”
“Oh, sweet girl.” Raven smoothed back her curls. “I’ll see you as much as you’d like. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”
At this, Sofia clutched her even tighter. “You promised, so I’m holding you to that. Papa said I shouldn’t be around them if people don’t keep their promises.”
“Your papa is a smart man.” She held the girl tightly to her chest. “Those people aren’t worthy of a sweet girl like you.”
There was a similar goodbye between Chris and Maxim. The preteen hesitated to show his emotions but sniffed and cleared his throat as he released his long-lost ‘uncle.’
“I’ll get with your dad and arrange everything for our weekend, okay, kiddo?” Chris saying ‘kiddo’ was so out of his previous character that I barely resisted the urge to gawk.
When it came time for Chris to say goodbye to Bryan and his babushka, we all stepped away to give them a modicum of privacy.
Bryan hadn’t been what I expected. However, I was sure that had more to do with his illness than any misrepresentation from Chris. Going through cancer treatment had to be a life-altering experience.
I only cared about seeing my friend happy. If that meant he made amends with his family, then I was thrilled for him.
If I were being honest with myself, I was ecstatic that this change had come over him. It wasn’t the first time I was grateful for Raven and how she was opening our eyes.
She made us better men. Men that were worthy of her love and affection.
I pulled her close to me and kissed her temple. “I love you, baby girl.”
She glanced up at me, a bright smile on her sleepy face. “I love you too. It’s so nice to see him happy.” She glanced at Chris as he said his final goodbyes and hugged his babushka and Bryan goodbye.
It wouldn’t always be sunshine and rainbows, but we were on the right track. We’d do whatever was needed to support Chris as he worked through this new chapter in his life.
But one thing was for certain.
It was damn nice to have a family who loved you.